I Left the U.S. Years ago–Here’s How I did it–BURNING QUESTIONS: What you should know before moving abroad

Do I have to be fluent in Chinese?

1.Do I have to be fluent in Chinese in order to teach in China?

No! Not at all. Although it helps if you learn Chinese, lots of people use language apps. It helps if you say, “Dui bu qi, wo de zhongwen bu hao.” Phonetically, you’d say, “Dway boo chee, whoa day chongwen boo how.”

It means, “Sorry my Chinese is bad.” Usually people will say, “mesa” which means, “no worries.” They will whip out their translation apps and you can communicate together. WeChat has a great and accurate translation feature, so if the other person is willing, you can add them and speak through the app.

What qualifications do I need?

2. What qualifications do I need to teach in China?

At least a four-year (bachelor’s) degree in ANYTHING, a 120-hour TEFL/TESOL certificate, and a clean criminal record. If you’ve raped or murdered someone, or you have a record of inflicting domestic abuse on someone, that will probably ruin your chances. You should probably be under 55. The government is changing the retirement age, but it seems to be 60 for both men and women for now. I’m 57 and I’m obviously still teaching. Exceptions are sometimes made, depending on how hard it is to get a visa for the province you are teaching in.

Do I need a lot of money?

3. Do I need a lot of money to start with?

Depends on what you mean by a “lot of money.” I think I came over here with about $3,000, but ran out and had to borrow from my school. However, I did pay them back and I’ve been solvent ever since, even through some challenging circumstances.

That being said, to be on the safe side, you’d want to arrive with at least $5,000. And you should have an emergency fund started, so you can access that money. Always have at least enough saved for a plane ticket home if things get too tough.

Do I need any previous teaching experience?

4. Do I need any previous teaching experience?

No, although any sort of experience teaching/working with young people is good. I had two weeks of training when I started at my first job. However, after that, there wasn’t much training at all, which was really frustrating.

Should I sell my house if I decide to teach overseas?

5. I own a house. Should I sell it if I decide to teach overseas?

No. I would see if you can rent it out, if you have a mortgage on it, or have a trusted friend/neighbor keep an eye on it, if you don’t decide to rent it. If you belong to a church, maybe you can have your house serve as emergency housing for someone who needs it. Sell your stuff, or put it into storage. While a lot of people stay overseas for a very long time, and sometimes decide to stay permanently, your experience may not be that great. Same with the cars. Consider loaning/renting vehicles out if you can. If you decide to do this, call your insurance agent and get the proper coverage needed.

I have several mental illnesses and conditions. Will this be an issue?

6. I have several mental illnesses/conditions and need meds. Will this be an issue?

It might. It depends on what medicines and mental health support you need. While mental illness is recognized more and more among young people here, culturally, people don’t discuss it much. You probably won’t get much sympathy if you need to take a few days off. And living in China can be bewildering, even after a few years. If you’re easily triggered, moving to China may not be the best fit. Of course, maybe some of the stressors that bother you back home may not bother you here. For example, I feel very, very safe. I don’t have to worry about being shot here. And people are very chill. I learned how to deal with things by myself because I’ve had to. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy, because it most certainly isn’t.

I’m Overweight. Is there mobility assistance?

7. I’m overweight. Is there mobility assistance for people there?

If by “mobility assistance” you mean those shopping scooters you see at Walmart, I would say no. I call China, “The Land of the Stairs.” Because there are many, many, many stairs here. You’ll also have to walk quite a ways, because the subway stations are huge. That being said, I lost around thirty pounds the first year, and lost another 10 in the past couple years or so. My physical activity has really increased because I had no choice in the matter. If you can’t get around too easy because you’re really overweight, you won’t get a lot of sympathy. If you do say something, a response might be, “If you lost some weight, you wouldn’t have this problem.” Chinese people are pretty polite, but on the other hand, they don’t have to make concessions for really overweight people here, because honestly, you really don’t see a lot of ginormous people here. There are no plus-size stores or sections. You’re lucky if you can find an XL if you shop at H&M or Uniqlo. And if you go to the Great Wall and you’re overweight, take the Mutanyu location and opt for the ski lift up to the wall. Because if you climb the stairs to the Great Wall, (about an hour) once you get there, there are even more steps. Do yourself a favor and drop about 20 pounds or so. Trust me on this one.

What are restaurants like?

8. What are restaurants like?

Lots of McDonald’s and Starbucks and KFC. There’s even Burger King. But Taco Bell will be nonexistent unless you’re in Beijing or Shanghai. Most restaurants here are small, cozy places with basic seating—stools. Pick a place where they have pictures of the dishes. Then, take a photo of it and show it to the staff. If they serve you water, it will be warm. Ice is not a thing here. Free refills are also not a thing here. There won’t be salt or pepper on the table, either. But you’ll probably pay $3 or less for a plate of food and bottled water. If you eat like a native, you’ll save money.

Is it weird living under communism?

9. Is it weird living under communism?

Not really. I’m not over here to stir up trouble. I don’t talk about the government. I have had at least one person say she was tired of the way the government was handling the Covid situation. But this was after about a year of showing our health codes when we went out in public. I showed my health code and didn’t complain about it. I’ve also noticed people here are very motivated by money. Lots of people, old and young, sell stuff on the street corners or the beaches. It seems like over here, you’re more likely to get free stuff in the form of samples. Like, if you go to the grocery store, you’ll see glass mugs taped to six packs of yogurt. Or you might get a free tote bag for Women’s Day, courtesy of Lay’s Potato Chips. If you’re old enough to remember the free stuff you got back in the 1970s, from records on the back of cereal boxes, to free samples of products in the mail, that’s sort of what the vibe is like. I’ve had to pay for my apartments until my current job where my apartment is free. And it’s a new apartment, too. As long as you don’t criticize the government here, or wave a flag that says, “Capitalism Rocks!” you’ll probably be fine.

Are Apartments Expensive?

10. Are apartments expensive?

Depends on if you want to live in the center of Beijing, or if you want to live in a tier two or tier three city. I will say every apartment I’ve had has been fairly convenient, with a grocery store down the street, and also several restaurants and a pharmacy. The most I paid for an apartment was $910 a month, at the fifth outer ring of Beijing. The least amount I’ve paid has been nothing. In Xiamen, the rent for me came around $392 for a two bedroom in Jimei district, with a plenty big living/dining area. When I lived on Xiamen island, the same price would get me a one bedroom apartment, with a bathroom and a kitchen. Stuff will cost more on the island. But even working a low-paying pre-kindergarten teaching job (making approximately 14,000 rmb a month or $1,960 USD) meant I had more than enough to rent an apartment. And this has been the first time in my life I have been able to pay rent on my own.

Is it hard getting around?

11. Is it hard getting around?

I took a lot of buses and Didi (Chinese Uber) when I lived in Xiamen for the first time. But it wasn’t until Beijing that I took the time to learn how to ride the subway. It wasn’t hard, because the subway is in both Chinese and English. Also, on my Apple phone, it took me years to discover this, but on Apple maps, you type in a destination and it will tell you how long it is to drive there, take the Didi, the subway, the bus, or to walk it. Sometimes there aren’t any subway options, but it seems there’s a bus option or vice versa. Didi runs about $5 or 6 for my usual route to get to the other campus. The bus is crazy cheap—like 14 to 28 cents a ride. Every trip I’ve taken in China to another city I’ve used high-speed rail. It’s very relaxing.

Will people stare at me?

12. Will people stare at me?

Sometimes. Sometimes people will ask to take a picture with you because they have never seen a foreigner before in person, or maybe they’ve never met an American. This is your chance to feel like a celebrity! This doesn’t happen to me a lot, but it’s fun when it does.

Is it safe to walk around at night?

13. I’m a single female. Is it safe to walk around at night?

Super safe! China is not exactly a late night country. But I’ve walked from a bar back to my apartment in Beijing past midnight because I just felt like walking. No one bothered me. Very close to my apartment a police officer did talk to me, but I think he was concerned I was out so late. But aside from him, no one else spoke to me when I was out.

Will people harass me?

14. Will people harass me because I’m not Chinese?

I don’t think so. It might be different if you are African-American, however. But no one has gotten into my face and said, “You’re in China, speak Chinese!” (not that I would know what that sounds like because my Chinese is so bad, LOL) but people are very zen here. You might see the occasional argument or fist fight, but you can rest easy that guns won’t be involved. There might be machetes/knives, however. But people try not to embarrass each other here (saving face culture). So people might stare at you, but mostly it isn’t out of hostility. It’s probably because they don’t see foreigners on a regular basis.

Is the water drinkable?

15 Is the water drinkable?

Not from the tap. Buy bottled, or boil the water. And remember, if you want ice-cold water, do this: Freeze bottles of water at home. Then add a little bit of water to them so the added water stays cold for a while.

Part one: https://nowaylaowai.home.blog/2024/11/10/thinking-of-leaving-the-u-s-this-is-how-i-did-it/

Part two: https://nowaylaowai.home.blog/2024/11/11/i-moved-overseas-years-ago-heres-how-i-did-it/

Part three: https://nowaylaowai.home.blog/2024/11/12/i-moved-overseas-five-years-ago-heres-how-i-did-it/

Part four: https://nowaylaowai.home.blog/2024/11/13/i-moved-overseas-years-ago-heres-how-i-did-it-2/

Part five: https://nowaylaowai.home.blog/2024/11/14/i-left-the-country-years-ago-heres-how-i-did-it/

Part six: https://nowaylaowai.home.blog/2024/11/16/i-moved-overseas-years-ago-this-is-how-i-did-it-what-its-like-to-teach-here-your-experiences-may-vary/

I moved overseas years ago this is how I did it–What it’s like to teach here (your experiences may vary)

Fired for not using enough pictures

A friend of mine had to wait five years before he got to China. I’d chat with him on WeChat about the challenges I’ve had. I warned him it wasn’t easy. He finally made it a little over a year ago and was fired the first week they gave him a permanent classroom. The reason? Parents watching his performance from home claimed he wasn’t using enough pictures.

He’s since moved on and has another job.

Part of the problem is cultural differences.

Your specialty is English? You’ll teach math and science

The assumption is that the more education you have the more experience you have and can handle anything that is thrown your way. You’ll automatically know every LMS there is to know. You’ll be an expert in Excel and know how to put formulas together. If you admit you’re math challenged, you’ll be told, “don’t say that” and be faced with a bewildering grading system. If your specialty is English, they will have you teach math and science (my first job). I said I shouldn’t be teaching anyone math OR science, but I was blown off by the American who was training me. Meanwhile, I was the target of a bitter co-worker who majored in biology, but was tasked with teaching her kids English, instead of math OR science.

I tried to make my classes interesting. I had hands-on science experiments and gave my oldest students their own tomato plants to grow in greenhouses I made myself and installed in my classroom. Math was frustrating because it seemed like I’d have kids added on a regular basis, and I never knew how much math they knew. So I was stuck on how to progress. And of course, no one gave me any tips.

“You’ll figure it out”

Training can range from two weeks, including lots of paperwork and observations, to four hours in a Starbucks, with vague instructions. You’ll be instructed to read a class novel with no reference to how to obtain the source material. And you’ll be told the students can “figure it out.” If there is one phrase I HATE it’s being told, it’s “you’ll figure it out.” I usually do, but sometimes it takes days, weeks, months, or decades. I usually seem to get the hang of what they want shortly after I’m fired.

I’ve been bitten on the job. I’ve been fondled by kids who “don’t mean anything by it” but if I was told not to do something as a kid, I didn’t do it. To this day, I always wash my hands after handling money. Dad pounded this behavior into my head anytime I played with my coin collections, or handled paper money. So that shit sticks with you. Little kids touching my butt or breasts is NOT cool. Those are private places. As a kid, I didn’t feel my mom up OR my dad. There were certain places you don’t touch.

A Student Attacked Me…

I’ve had my ponytail yanked from behind because a child whom I’d been working with and making progress with was being promoted to the next grade—and he wasn’t happy about it. He came from an unstable home and had behavior problems. But having your kid move up a grade is a big deal here. It doesn’t matter he’s getting attention and behaving better and making works of art. I was furious that he had attacked me, but when it was explained why he did that, I just felt sorry for the kid.

I never worked with him again. I hope he’s okay and making great works of art.

Don’t Point Out Autistic Kids

Don’t point out autistic kids. Just work with them the best you can.

When I noticed a student in my Guangzhou class exhibiting spectrum-like behavior, I didn’t say anything, even though my boss felt something was up about this particular kid.

When you put your foot down for bad behavior on the students’ part, I was the one who got in trouble.

Sleeping in Class is a Problem

Sleeping in class is a problem at the high school level. And yes, teachers were blamed for this. Chinese students start working very hard for very long hours at an early age. I feel sorry for them, but this ultra-competitive system means if they are able to go to college in the United States, they WILL graduate and kick ass in the process. Why will students argue for a 93 when a 92 is high enough? It’s because not everyone gets into college in China.

China Simply Doesn’t Have the Resources…

I asked one of my students and they explained. China simply doesn’t have the resources to send everyone to college, she said, so the spots go to the best and the brightest. In the United States, we don’t have that problem. Even if you barely graduated high school, or dropped out, if you want to go to college, you CAN. You might be placed in remedial courses in order to catch up, but if you really want to go to college, in the U.S. you can. Not so in China.

One day, I caught some girls trimming their bangs in class with manicure scissors.

Part of the boredom is that these kids can’t speak English. I’m supposed to teach composition when they probably aren’t sure what “composition” means. This makes it frustrating when the kids need some good, old-fashioned ESL, and the school wants them to write sophisticated essays and read classic literature. The best school I taught at was a little more demanding, but even then, the students got to bring notes to the final exams.

When I asked one school how the students’ English levels were, they replied, “they’ve been studying English since first grade.” But how WELL did they study? I’ve studied Spanish since I was five, but I am STILL not fluent.

Learning about Louis Braille

I have been punished for not being “unique” in terms of my teaching methods/supplies, but also criticized for following curriculum they gave me when I asked them for something to work from. I usually appreciate a textbook, or PowerPoint slides, but also have activities that relate to what the class is about. In short, I’m doing what I think is right and different. One of my college classes got to try writing braille in order to learn about Louis Braille and how his invention revolutionized blind people and their ability to communicate.

I think now I am in a position where I can do more interesting things and activities because the English level is pretty good. And that makes teaching fun.

Teaching in China is not like teaching in the United States.

Obscene Kahoot Nicknames

You WILL have disrespectful students who will work your name into a sexual act as a nickname when you play Kahoot because they know you don’t speak the language. Luckily, the students at my current school are great. I don’t expect them to do anything terrible.

Things might be different for you. You might end up at a really good school who appreciates creativity, with kind, supportive co-workers and great resources.

Oh, and one school had a resource room, but decided not to show me where it was until just a couple weeks before school ended. I spent the entire school year wishing I had some good texts. Finally, I was asked if I’d like to see the resource room. I said, “of course” and found a treasure trove of books that would have been a great help to me several months ago.

But it was too late.

Part one: https://nowaylaowai.home.blog/2024/11/10/thinking-of-leaving-the-u-s-this-is-how-i-did-it/

Part two: https://nowaylaowai.home.blog/2024/11/11/i-moved-overseas-years-ago-heres-how-i-did-it/

Part three: https://nowaylaowai.home.blog/2024/11/12/i-moved-overseas-five-years-ago-heres-how-i-did-it/

Part four: https://nowaylaowai.home.blog/2024/11/13/i-moved-overseas-years-ago-heres-how-i-did-it-2/

Part five: https://nowaylaowai.home.blog/2024/11/14/i-left-the-country-years-ago-heres-how-i-did-it/

I moved overseas years ago–Here’s how I did it: Some Random Facts about China

Salt, Pepper, Soap, Washrooms, Toilet Paper and Egg Crates

Random Things About China

There is no salt or pepper on restaurant tables. If you can’t live without these seasonings, bring your own.

Bring your own soap. Washrooms might not have it.

Bring your own toilet paper.

You can’t flush toilet paper. Throw it away.

Plastic egg crates make awesome ice cube trays. Reduce, reuse, recycle!

Thrift Stores, Ice, Tap Water, Warm Drinking Water, and Riding Public Transportation

Thrift stores don’t really exist here. With the massive economic growth in the past 40-50 years, you wouldn’t want to buy used stuff either.

That being said, the malls are amazing! In Xiamen there was one with a horseback riding school, with a cute little café. And no need to buy equipment, it’s covered in the cost of your lesson, INCLUDING INSURANCE!

Ice in restaurants is rare.

They will most likely serve you warm drinking water.

Tap water is not drinkable. Either boil it, get a filter, or buy bottled.

No free refills. So if you are like me and drink two soft drinks with each meal, order accordingly.

If you go out to eat with a group of people, one person will pay for everyone. Please ask the host what your share of the bill is. Even splitting checks between two people will most likely get you strange looks from the servers.

People will bump into you or nudge past you without an “excuse me.” Don’t get salty about it.

People sometimes don’t wait in line and will cut in front of you. Again, just relax.

When getting on a bus or subway, go for the nearest seat quickly. There’s an art to riding public transportation.

Eggs, Exploring, Street Vendors, Fruit, Veggies, and the “subway station right near my apartment”

You’ll have to do a lot of exploring on your own to find stuff. Take a day or two and ride the bus and make a note of what street you are on and what shops/businesses you want to try out.

Lots of people sell stuff on the street. It’s entirely possible to get a week’s worth of groceries from street vendors.

You can buy one egg here or as many as you want.

Thoroughly WASH your fruits and vegetables. Avoid eating fruit/veggies already cut up.

I was told about a subway station right near my apartment. When I went looking for it, the subway station was under construction. When I moved two and a half years later, it was STILL under construction. So beware when the people at your new job talk about all the amenities the neighborhood has.

Loneliness, Broken Sidewalks, Food Poisoning, and IG

Get used to being lonely. I’ve tried reaching out to expats, but I haven’t had much luck. That being said, the expats I consider my friends are really great.

Be prepared for broken, uneven, or nonexistent sidewalks.

Be prepared for uneven surfaces everywhere

Depending on where you go, if you are western, you might be asked to take a picture. Westerners are novelties. If you are in the mood, take a picture and smile! I always do.

I had food poisoning five times in my first year, but you may not be so unlucky.

Take hand sanitizer/wipes with you. Always wash your hands whenever you get a chance.

Yes, a lot of websites are “banned” here, but a lot of people seem to have access to them. I had to chuckle when a student asked me for my IG account.

I Want to Have a Look

Public restrooms are available on the street and for the most part they are clean and free of graffiti. The toilets flush when you open the door to leave.

If you are white, people will assume you have money. It makes it hard to just browse, especially if you have no intention of buying. “Wo xian kan kan” basically means, “I want to have a look.” It’s probably the first and most useful phrase I learned here.

You can have KFC delivered. And some KFCs are open 24/7!

If you’re skin isn’t white, you may have a tougher time getting a job, or a hotel room. As a middle-aged white woman, no one gives me any trouble.

Take your passport everywhere if you can. You may be asked for it, especially if you want to travel, or buy medicine, or send something through the mail.

All the cities I have lived in, if you’re deciiiiiiding, on where to go…

Of the cities I have lived in, here are my brief takes, if you are deciding where to go:

Beijing—Capital city! But freaking HUGE. People are polite. Lots of history and culture. More expensive. Good food. But too big and too cold for me. Think Vermont/Minnesota/Manitoba type cold when it comes to winter.

Guangzhou—Beautiful riverfront. Authentic southern food from 13 Factories (owner was raised in the American south). Wholesale capital of China. Great food, western or Chinese. People are sort of New York-ish. I was grunted at several times after I thanked and said goodbye to my Didi drivers. U.S. consulate is here. The Shunde hotel is a decent place to stay if you want to visit and close to where the action is. Be prepared for overcast skies for months on end. They have a couple of Ikeas here, I think.

Fuzhou—Still getting to know the capital of Fujian province. Very pretty, lots of trees, flowers, and other plants. There is an Ikea here on the east side of town. A subway can take you there for a dollar or so. University City (where I live) has tons of restaurants and bargain eyewear. I got two pair of glasses, one regular one sunglasses for less than $100. Avoid LensCrafters if at all possible. I got soaked by the one in Guangzhou for $1400 USD. NEVER AGAIN.

Xiamen—The first and the favorite. The vibe reminds me of my hometown of Fort Wayne, Indiana. People are nice, laid-back and not pretentious. It’s like living in a garden. Part island, part mainland. Seems more expat-friendly in terms of groups, activities and western restaurants to choose from. I’ve liked some aspect of every city I’ve been to, but Xiamen will probably always be my favorite. I’ve met the most people there, and made the most friends there.

Square Dancing

Square dancing is popular here, but it’s different than in the states. Here, it looks like one big flash mob of ladies (it’s mostly ladies) dancing out on public in a handy park, or plaza, or wherever is big enough to have 30-40 people line up and dance. There are also couples doing all sorts of dances.

People seem more concerned about fitness and health here.

Western clothing stores like H&M and Uniqlo have extra large, but that’s as far as it can go. I’ve lived here for years and have NEVER seen any plus-size stores. You can order online, but even the 5XL is more like a two or three XL. Either pack plenty of clothes, or drop some weight, ya fatty.

Late to the party???

Part one: https://nowaylaowai.home.blog/2024/11/10/thinking-of-leaving-the-u-s-this-is-how-i-did-it/

Part two: https://nowaylaowai.home.blog/2024/11/11/i-moved-overseas-years-ago-heres-how-i-did-it/

Part three: https://nowaylaowai.home.blog/2024/11/12/i-moved-overseas-five-years-ago-heres-how-i-did-it/

Part four: https://nowaylaowai.home.blog/2024/11/13/i-moved-overseas-years-ago-heres-how-i-did-it-2/

Part five: https://nowaylaowai.home.blog/2024/11/14/i-left-the-country-years-ago-heres-how-i-did-it/

I Left the Country Years Ago–Here’s How I Did It

Consider Living Abroad

My journey so far—

So I have been here for five years. I don’t want to go into too much detail, but it hasn’t been easy here. Other things have been.

Some of you may consider living abroad and teaching for a few years; some of you might want to make it permanent. I know I have been thinking about my next steps. I am not sure if I want to teach, but if I can, I will certainly consider online or F2F teaching when I get too old to teach in China. Sadly, that is coming up shortly.

I am very hard on myself, but I think my friends would describe me as really strong (and stubborn) about sticking it out here in China. My goal was to stay here until I turn 60, and then come back home. I may still do that, but I may also consider teaching somewhere else.

Good things about living in China

So what are some of the good things about living in China? Here’s how:

Lower cost of living: The most I ever paid for an apartment was $910 in Beijing for a gorgeous two bedroom 10 minutes away from my school. The cheapest was $392. That was in Xiamen. If you are on the island, you’ll get less for your money. Right now, I have free rent because the school is providing the apartment, which is brand-new and about a 45 minute walk to my classroom. Depending on what I buy, groceries for one person can range from $28 a week to $56 a week.

Mass transportation: The bus costs anywhere from 14 cents to 28 cents. Subway rides are based on how far you are going. But I’ve never paid more than seven yuan for a subway ride, which is around 98 cents. Didi (Chinese Uber) rides vary of course depending on time and day. Probably the most I paid was when I hired a Didi to go to the Great Wall. I don’t know how much it was, but it took around an hour and a half to go from my southeast Beijing apartment to the Great Wall on a weekday.

Thyroid meds and Metformin are available OTC

I can buy my thyroid and metformin over the counter here. I think I pay maybe $15 total for a box of each.

Healthcare: I have used the private clinics here as well as the hospitals. If you use a hospital, you pay at each station you have to go to. They have cards you can buy at the hospital that you can put money on, then as you go to each department, you pay them via the card. My friend ended up in the hospital for two weeks and every day, they stood at the end of her bed and showed her how much she owed. I would consider getting expat health insurance, although your employer might have a plan for you.

Sam’s Club is Here, Too

Food: You will find plenty of McDonald’s, KFC, and Starbucks here. There are also thousands of little places to get authentic Chinese food. Baopals.com is where to go to get goodies from home. Olé is a fancy grocery story with a lot of western foods, and generally better quality meats. Metro is a German-based big box style retailer that sort of looks like Sam’s Club or Costco. They sell stuff in giant quantities. And Sam’s Club is here too.

There’s more, but I am not sure how deep in depth to go with it publicly. I will try to talk about what it’s like to teach in China as carefully as I can. But that’s a post for later.

Late to the party?

Part one:https://nowaylaowai.home.blog/2024/11/10/thinking-of-leaving-the-u-s-this-is-how-i-did-it/

Part two:https://nowaylaowai.home.blog/2024/11/11/i-moved-overseas-years-ago-heres-how-i-did-it/

Part three:https://nowaylaowai.home.blog/2024/11/12/i-moved-overseas-five-years-ago-heres-how-i-did-it/

Part four:https://nowaylaowai.home.blog/2024/11/13/i-moved-overseas-years-ago-heres-how-i-did-it-2/

I Moved Overseas Years Ago–Here’s How I Did It

Students on the Spectrum

Some Don’ts about Teaching in China

If you have a student on the spectrum in your class, don’t point it out to administration. I did, and lost my job. Instead, if you can possibly work one-on-one with this student, do so. I have had three students on the spectrum. I didn’t point out the third one, but it was obvious to others he related to things and people a bit differently.

As much as it hurts, don’t single out someone who is on the spectrum. Work with them frequently if you can. I was making progress with a student who was a disciplinary problem, but could concentrate for hours on an art project. However, just as I felt I was making a breakthrough, they promoted him to the next grade and I never worked with him after that.

Don’t mention Tiananmen, Taiwan, or Tibet. Also, be careful of the maps you use and ask if there are any maps the school would like you to use, especially depicting Asia.

Don’t mention religion. If a textbook references religion, ask administration if it’s okay to talk about world religions and their importance. Don’t emphasize one religion over another. If they say skip that chapter, skip it.

Keep Religion Out of It

Don’t organize a Halloween party or Christmas party without seeing if it’s okay first. Halloween seems to be celebrated more, but still ask. Same with Christmas. They might say a “winter party” is okay. Keep religion out of it, no matter how religious you are.

Ask about classroom curriculum policy. Some may not want you to show videos. Some may be okay with videos as homework.

Don’t rely on the school’s internet to work whenever you want it to. If showing videos, download them first so it won’t matter if the internet poops out. If you use the internet for a classroom activity, be sure to have a backup if the internet goes down.

Don’t get too attached to your students.

Don’t get too involved with a student. The culture is different here. A student with a learning disability or who is physically/mentally handicapped is seen as shameful. It could be interpreted as being punished for the sins of an ancestor. No, I’m not joking. Check it out here: chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ921178.pdf. Or go to the U.S. Department of Education and search for “The Invisibles.”

Absued at Home

Some kids are being abused at home. You can’t really do anything except be there for the student. That’s probably the hardest part about teaching here. One of my current students either IS or WAS a cutter. I’ve seen the marks on her arms.

Don’t Spend a Lot on Your Classroom

Don’t spend a lot on equipment/supplies for your classroom. Live pets are a bad idea. Sometimes, they are looked at as toys, and the children play with them accordingly. Get battery-operated pets/insects if you don’t want any dead/abused animals in your classroom. This is not my own personal experience, but a former colleague’s experience.

Don’t bring anything special into your classroom and expect the students to treat it with respect. Also, prepare for your room to be “cleaned” at any moment and all of your materials, school-purchased, and personally purchased, to vanish.

Don’t get too attached to expats. Or your co-workers.

Don’t start drinking. It’s very easy to get bored and lonely and pick up the bottle. An occasional drink is fine, but foreign teachers have a rep for being alcoholics.

Don’t be offended if they ask you if you are married and have kids. That’s a big deal here. Family is big here.

Late to the party? Catch up here:

Thinking of Leaving the U.S.? This is How I Did It

I Moved Overseas Years Ago–Here’s How I Did It

I Moved Overseas Five Years Ago–Here’s How I Did It

Some Don’ts about Teaching In China

Don’t mention Tiananmen, Taiwan, or Tibet. Also, be careful of the maps you use and ask if there are any maps the school would like you to use, especially depicting Asia.

Don’t Mention Religion

Ask about classroom curriculum policy. Some may not want you to show videos. Some may be okay with videos as homework.

Don’t Rely on the School’s Internet

Don’t get too attached to your students.

Physical and Mental Handicapped Individuals are seen as Shameful

Live Pets are a Bad Idea

Don’t Get Too Attached to Expats, Co-workers, or the Bottle

Don’t get too attached to expats. Or your co-workers.

Don’t start drinking. It’s very easy to get bored and lonely and pick up the bottle. An occasional drink is fine, but foreign teachers have a rep for being alcoholics.

Don’t be offended if they ask you if you are married and have kids. That’s a big deal here. Family is big here.

Late to the party? Part one here: https://nowaylaowai.home.blog/2024/11/10/thinking-of-leaving-the-u-s-this-is-how-i-did-it/

Part two here: https://nowaylaowai.home.blog/2024/11/11/i-moved-overseas-years-ago-heres-how-i-did-it/

I Moved Overseas Years Ago–Here’s How I Did It

Today’s topic is some teaching “dos” if you decide to head overseas to teach.

Teaching and Living in China—How to Prepare

Avoid Selling Your House

Dos:

Have at least enough airfare saved to buy a return ticket if you decide you absolutely can’t do it, or if things get bad in a hurry. Make sure you can access that money.

If you are a homeowner, have someone reliable check on your house, or put your belongings in storage and rent it out. There are property management places that can help with this. I have a wonderful friend who helped me when plans A and B fell through. Avoid selling your house, because you never know.

Get a prescription list and letter from your physician so you can get meds. Try to take a six month supply initially, then see if you can get meds through a doctor in China. Some meds are OTC. Some aren’t.

No Plus-Size Sections

If possible, visit the country you plan to teach in. This wasn’t an option for me.

Take plenty of clothes. Asians are nowhere as big as the average American. And even stores like H&M and Uniqlo don’t have plus-size sections. You’ll be lucky if you can find an XL.

Take plenty of OTC drugs with you. They have tons of pharmacies here, but the medicine seems very weak. It works, but it takes a while.

Even if you are an experienced teacher, there’s a good chance your teaching methods won’t be appreciated in China. When in doubt, ask. Videos may or may not be allowed. And remember, in private schools, parents run the show. You can be fired for the color of your skin, and for not using enough pictures in class.

Find an Attorney and Get on WeChat

Kahoot is a fun way to either lead a lesson, or review for a test/quiz. Consider having small prizes for the top finishers after a Kahoot session.

Find an attorney, either in the town you teach in or on a WeChat group. Foreigners are taken advantage of here.

Get a Chinese phone right away. I tried to use my American phone. It didn’t work.

Get on Wechat. It’s probably the most useful App you’ll have.

Have enough money to live on for a month or two. Workers are paid monthly in China. Most schools I’ve worked at pay on time, but recently I had to wait two months to get paid.

Positive things on Progress Reports

Get a VPN and have it installed preferably before you leave China. I highly recommend Astrill.

If you are invited anywhere, say for a dinner or some sort of program, you will probably be asked to give a speech.

Say positive things on progress reports.

If you go somewhere with a group of people, one person will pay for everyone else. Be sure to reimburse your host for your share.

Participate, even if things or the event seem weird. If you value your “alone time” don’t make a big deal out of it.

Mental Illness IS here: Hello Depression and Anxiety

Keep quiet about any disabilities you might have, especially mental illness. Things are different here culturally. Mental illness IS here. People, especially the older ones, aren’t as vocal about it, but my students are more likely to say they struggle with depression or anxiety.

Lose some weight or get into better shape before going. China is a land of steps, both big and small. And there is a good chance you will have to walk at least five minutes to get to your classroom from the school gate. I’ve lost 40 pounds in five years without really dedicating myself to a weight loss program. Food poisoning, and walking to bus stops twice a day, unfamiliar food, a fear of eating, a hot climate and urban exploration has melted me away. But that’s not a bad thing.

Hygiene in China

Take soap with you. Either keep it in a small jar in your handbag, or if you’re a guy, cut a few slivers of bar soap and stick them in your wallet. Hygiene in China is not like the United States.

Carry toilet paper with you. Not all restrooms have it.

Baopals.com is a great website to get the stuff you are craving, but can’t find in the stores here. You want cocktail sauce for your shrimp? Go to Baopals. I had to mix wasabi paste and ketchup for months for makeshift cocktail sauce before I found out about Baopals.

Administration Won’t Back You Up

Do tie in your discipline policy into your grades. You can call it “classroom participation.” Outline your expectations and go over them on day one. If students violate the rules, tell the student privately, then deduct points from their classroom participation score. As in the U.S., don’t be surprised if administration won’t back you up if there is a problem.

Late to the party? Here’s part one: https://nowaylaowai.home.blog/2024/11/10/thinking-of-leaving-the-u-s-this-is-how-i-did-it/

Check out my YouTube Channel: Nowaylaowai

What the Fuck Foods: A series of videos about unusual foods

The chicken feet one:

Trump’s sticky balls:

Melania knows what they taste like, and so do I: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7ihP9VsgVU&t=1s

Translation is Tricky: A friend of mine and I struggle through our Chinese lesson:

Thinking of Leaving the U.S.? This is How I Did It

Here’s How I Did It

So the U.S. Presidential elections happened a few days ago and some people are worried. They want to get out of the country. I got out years ago. Here’s how I did it.

Fed up with the lack of job opportunities, I put a résumé up on Dave’s ESL Café. It’s a well-known website that has lots of job opportunities if you want to teach English overseas. Bear in mind I did this about six and a half years ago. It took me about a year to get to China.

So within 24 hours of uploading my résumé, I got six emails. Twenty-four hours later, I got six more. And so on. It was nice to know my skills were needed.

Considering Teaching Overseas? Have This

I was pretty much offered a job straight away, but stubborn me wanted to give the job search a few more months. After a disastrous “training” week with a call center, I walked out knowing I would flunk and contacted the school. I was ready. What did I need? If you’re considering teaching overseas, you should have this:

A four-year degree in ANYTHING.

Native English-speaking skills

Clean criminal record

Drug-free

A 120-hour TEFL/TESOL certificate. (You can study for these online.)

The ability to adapt

A lot of paperwork, as it turns out. However, the guy I spoke with was also American, and he walked me through the process. I wanted a 120-hour TEFL/TESOL certificate. You can get certification for a lesser amount of hours, but I encourage you to get the 120-hour one. I think it took me around two months to complete it. Some schools definitely require it. And the more certifications/subject area skills you have, the better. The better schools will require a teaching license. There are openings for STEM subjects, and some humanities as well. However, kindergartens offer the best chances for work. Start there, and then see what else is available.

No Teaching License Needed to Teach in China

You do NOT need a teaching license to teach in China.

I applied for a passport on September 1, 2018. It will take about a month to get, unless there’s a sudden surge for passports. If you want it faster, you can pay a fee.

I had to apply for a Chinese visa, as well. The school had to write a letter on my behalf saying I was going to come and teach at their school. Once that was ready, I had to take my newly minted passport to the Chinese consulate in Chicago, to apply for my visa. It only took a few days, and I went back the following week in bitter cold weather to pick it up.

I Used VisaRite…

I also needed a criminal background check from the FBI. You’ll need to either take your own fingerprints, or see if the local police department will take them for you. You need to send them off and get your report back. Once the FBI gets your fingerprints, it can take around three to five days to run a report. They will send it electronically and you can also opt for a paper version, which I strongly suggest.

You also need to get notarized copies of your college degrees notarized from the school where you went. You’ll also need to send them to the state in order to get them re-notarized. Then, the Chinese consulate has to notarize them too. Once everything is notarized, take the originals with you. Also make a bunch of copies of the notarized originals, just in case.

I used a company called VisaRite to send my documents to, so the Chinese consulate could do their thing. Be sure to set at least $600 aside for a passport, document copies, document processing, fingerprints and the background check. Prices may vary depending on how fast you want things done. Prices may have gone up since six and a half years ago.

Get a Passport

I was very, very poor at the time, so I had to do everything as I had the money. If you already have a valid passport, it might not take as long. Bear in mind that the TEFL/TESOL certificate will have to be notarized by the issuing institution too. That was literally the last thing I was waiting for when the school that hired me sent me an email asking me if I could come by Feburary 27, 2019. I was in the process of sending the email saying I was just waiting on the notarized certificate when I heard a knock on my door. It was FedEx with the paperwork. I sent the school an email immediately saying I had everything.

From starting the paperwork to the finish, I want to say it was at least five months.

I finally arrived in China about 12:45 local time, Feburary 28, 2019.

A Sick Saga, Part Two

Cloudy Bubbles, In the pool…

The pool was a bit cloudy.

I noticed this because years ago I was lucky enough to find goggles that were like reading glasses. I remember putting them on, then gazing around in wonder because everything WAS CLEAR. It was like I had prescription ground goggles! I also have nose clips and ear plugs because I also taught myself (via Youtube) to do a flip turn (a.k.a. a tumble turn, depending what part of the world you are from.) It’s easier to see where you are going without your eyes closed, so I bought the gear and swimming has been great with those little items.

Dirty (Chinese) Pool

But I was a little nervous. A cloudy pool isn’t a good thing. The last time I swam in a cloudy pool, I got sick. Pools in China have a nasty habit of not being clean. The outdoor pools are worse than the indoor pools. And that’s why I avoided the pool in my apartment complex this year. I would have loved to lay out in the sun then jump in when things got too hot, but I ended up shitting water for a couple weeks. I went to the doctor at the expat clinic, who suspected the outdoor pool, not my homemade veggie juice, was the culprit. I immediately quit both and felt better.

Don’t Forget to Vote!

Hey! I’ve got a YouTube channel and I comment on food! Check out my latest “What the Fuck” foods videos here. I review Limited Edition Oreo Coke and a snack called “Trump.” I kid you not.

Also, don’t forget to vote, even if it seems like a futile exercise.

Trump’s sticky balls: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7ihP9VsgVU

Chicken feet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwU7vwVuSt8

Oreo Coke: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afAorK3ZV8A&t=2s

Late to the party? Click the link below for the beginning of the story.

A Sick Saga, Part One

A Sick Saga, Part One

I’m No Riley Gaines, but…

One thing I’ve noticed about myself is that I can keep it together just long enough until the crisis has passed. For example, I noticed that I can keep going at my job and not take any sick time until the next weekend/vacation day/extended holiday rolls around. We don’t have substitutes in China. No one seems to step in. If you are sick, your co-workers pick up the slack.

I try NOT to get sick. But sometimes it happens. When it does, I’m usually lucky. I hold on until an extended vacation comes up, then I can collapse without being a burden on anyone.

But not this summer.

After the stay visa crisis, within hours of finding out I didn’t have to go to Thailand, I decided to treat myself to a swim. I love swimming, and someday I WILL have a pool in my backyard at home. I don’t care if it’s a tiny eight foot by six foot rectangle, I AM having a pool. I’m no Riley Gaines, but I love how I feel after I swim. In the meantime, I went to the resort where I had a swim membership. I did my usual 24 length of the pool (it’s a 25 meter pool) when I noticed something.

Part 2 next week!